Chef Hats and Aprons

Pic by Dazar Suarman

JOHOR BARU: FIVE orphans under the care of the Amitabha Malaysia, Johor chapter, recently got a taste of what it was like to work in a hotel.

The children, two girls and three boys aged between 7 and 12, were the special guests of Renaissance Johor Baru, which had organised for them a baking session with hotel chef Mohd Haznor Nazmi.

Haznor, whose specialty is cakes and bread, especially pistachio pave cake, demonstrated to the children how to bake cupcakes.

After showing them how to mix the flour with the egg, he taught them how to do the icing and toppings.

Chef’s hats and aprons had been prepared for the children, who eagerly put them on with the help of hotel general manager Marc Cosyns.

Cosyns said the one-hour session was held to mark Marriott’s annual Global Customer Appreciation Week 2014 and as part of the hotel’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

“All of the hotel’s CSR activities are handled by our Spirit To Serve Committee and our staff readily volunteer their time whenever the committee comes up with proposals and ideas on how we can give back to the community,” he said.

Cosyns said the hotel was participating in a charity project organised by the Johor Arts Foundation today at Danga City Mall, here.

The Halloween Fund Raising Party and Movie Night is held to collect money to help 10-year-old Angela Har Yi Qi, who is suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Meanwhile, Amitabha Malaysia Johor project executive Chloe Chan, who was the chaperone, said baking was a novelty to the children who had only seen people cook with a wok and spatula.

Thanks to the hotel, Chan said, the girls have now set their minds on a career in the hospitality industry.

“Many children only think of becoming a doctor, teacher or lawyer when they grow up because they hear what the adults want.

“There are so many other careers, like being a chef, for instance, that children may not know about. The tour of the hotel kitchen has given these children an idea of what it is like to work in a hotel.

“As for the baking, I think the children enjoyed eating the cupcakes more than baking them,” she said.

by Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

Blushing Red

So happy to see my old friend Norbaiti Phaharoradzi again. Well, my young friend, actually. 

I'm not much of a people person, but our new Event page is teaching me to socialize.

Have covered three social gatherings in the past four days. A little tired but it was kind of nice to meet so many new faces and see familiar ones again.

Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Tonight Strawberry Yam, another young friend, and I painted the town red. No, I made that up.

Strawberry was at the Gala Dinner held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Sunway College Johor Bahru.  

I'm truly happy to also see Ivan, Shirley, Anthony, Elaine at the same event.

But after my work is done, I just go home. 

My baby's waiting for me. I made this up too. I don't have a spitz.

Visual Treat

Pics courtesy of PSJ

Tang King Huat (4th from left) with members of the PSJ, (from left) Lek Kah Meng, Chua Feng Xun, Kee Jwee Hiong, Wong Siew Heong and Lee Keong Thit.

Venue:  Southern University College

Date: Nov 2 to Nov 9, 2014

Event: 100 Photographic Showcase

by Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

JOHOR BARU: PHOTOGRAPHY enthusiasts should not miss the “100 Photographic Showcase” which will be held at the Southern University College (SUC) here from Sunday to Nov 9.

Photographic Society of Johor (PSJ) president Tang King Huat said 100 photographs will put up for sale at RM200 each, and the full amount will go to the SUC. The exhibition will be held at its Museum and Art Gallery.

“The exhibition will showcase our members’ work from as early as the 1960s to the present day,” Tang said.

“We hope that the exhibition will draw photography enthusiasts and that schools will organise visits to the exhibition, as it will help students learn more about the techniques of photography.

“A black and white photograph can bring more contrast to a shot as it is not distorted by colours. It is like listening to the music of a song minus the lyrics.

“Just enjoy the musical notes. That is what a black and white photograph evokes in some of us,” Tang said.

“The same photograph with colours stir a different mood and tells a different story,” he added.

Tang also said that the event was one of the highlights of PSJ’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Tebrau Member of Parliament Khoo Soo Seang is expected to launch the event on Sunday at 11am.

There will also be a sharing session where three well-known photographers Foo Tee Jun, Teo Yong Kang and Wong Beow Leong, all from Singapore, will share their experiences as well as tips on how to get the winning shot in a photography contest.

PSJ has also prepared a set of postcards featuring all the photographs on exhibition, as a gift for guests during its opening on a whilst stocks last basis.

The exhibition will be held daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. PSJ, which was formed in 1964, has more than 200 members today.

For enquiries, call the event organising chairman Wong Siew Heong at 012-763 9191.

Stronger Bilateral Ties

"Rotarians are perceived by some as Zionists, Freemasons or Rich Men's Club. We are a non-political, non-religious, non-racial organisation ... our mission is to make the world a better place. Let us be known as rich in our hearts."

- Andre Suharto

Andre Suharto (right) with S. J. Prakason and John Cheah

http://www.nst.com.my/node/47265

JOHOR BARU: Rotary District 3310 District Governor Andre Suharto recently paid a visit to the Rotary Club of Johor Baru Sentral (RCJBS).

It is among the 62 Rotary clubs under Rotary District 3310, covering Johor, Malacca, Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Singapore.

Suharto said he was pleased with RCJBS’ works since its inception in 2012.

On Monday, RCJBS saw the installation of its new president S. J. Prakason and the board of directors for 2014-2015. Four new members were also inducted to the organisation.

Later, Suharto announced that three new Rotary clubs will be established next year, two in Johor and the other in Singapore.

"I hope to see bilateral ties among the clubs under Rotary District 3310 get stronger and aspire for each club to come up with its own unique projects,” he said.

The event, which was held at the Tropical Inn Hotel Johor Baru, saw an attendance of 45 members. By Chuah Bee Kim

It's Not Safe

by Chuah Bee Kim

JOHOR BARU: LOW rentals has lured about 100 families and individuals into Block 4 of Taman Jaya flats in Skudai here, despite it being declared unsafe a decade ago.

In 2005, a support pillar of the four-storey block had cracked and became slightly tilted, which forced 300 residents to evacuate.

After the incident, the then Public Works and Housing Committee chairman Datuk Baderi Dasuki had urged the residents to move out voluntarily within a week for their own safety or face forceful eviction.

Based on preliminary findings, the Malaysian Public Works Institute (Ikram) had declared the structure unstable and a study on Block 4 was conducted.

Ikram reportedly found that the cracked column had failed, making it unable to take the load of the structure.

In 2011, the state government gave out compensations to the flat owners. But for fear of safety for their families, some had left for good after the incident.

Some left but came back and along the way, new tenants moved in, lured by the attractive low rentals for the units.

Streets visited the block of flats yesterday and found that people living there were unfazed by the hazardous conditions.

Sixty-year-old Sukarti Karsan was one of the tenants who lived there with her son. Sukarti said she was aware of the 2005 incident.

“My two sons take turns to take care of me. Sometimes I go and stay with him and sometimes I stay with my son here. I know it is not safe but we cannot find alternative accommodation.

“My son is renting the place for RM250. There is water and electricity. In some units, there are none and their rental is lower,” Sukarti said.

Another resident who only wanted to be known as Ani, who is living in the block across Sukarti, said her rental is RM300 per month.

“Residents in my block were not asked to evacuate as the land here did not sink.

“I think a lot of foreigners are renting the flats here, especially in that block, as the rent is lower than the other blocks,” she said.

It was reported that residents heard a loud bang and felt the floor moving in the 10.30pm incident.

The walls in some units started to crack and steel rods inside the support pillar could be seen.

The support pillar was said to have cracked due to soil movement below the almost 30-year-old building, which houses 64 units.

Central Johor Baru Municipal Council president Sallehuddin Hassan confirmed to Streets yesterday that the building is not fit for occupancy.

Sallehuddin said a sign was put up by MPJBT but it has since gone missing.

Short Getaway To Absolute Happiness

Dr Ang Yi Yiang, Jaymie Tan and Catherine Tan

By Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

http://www.nst.com.my/node/46488

MERSING: Sixty-nine people attended the Monsoon Course 2014, a four-day-three-night motivation programme.

Held at the Felda Residence Tanjung Leman here, the event was themed "Absolute Happiness".

Event organising chairman Serene Wong said the annual event, in its fourth year, was also aimed at deepening the members' understanding and practice of the Buddhist faith.

"The event is a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, as well as a chance to strengthen friendships and get motivated to live a positive life," she added.

Besides group discussions, there were also fun-filled games and an entertainment night where the participants got together to perform in groups.

The event was organised by the Johor chapter of Soka Gakkai Malaysia.